Sign in using your account

Miller to definitely change Wildcat lineup

For
the past four games, Sean Miller has started the same five players:
Jordin Mayes, Kyle Fogg, Solomon Hill, Jesse Perry and Kyryl
Natyazhko.

That
string will end Tuesday when the Wildcats play at New Mexico
State.

And
it won’t be resumed.

“The
same five that started against San Diego State will never start
another game (together) at Arizona,” Miller told the Star
today.

Miller said he didn’t have it “etched
in stone” who the new starters will be, but he’s expected to make a
change at center as well as possibly some other spots. His recent
substitution patterns suggest he may start Nick Johnson,
too.

Miller said he has not decided yet if
Angelo Chol or Jesse Perry could start at center, nor whether
Josiah Turner will start over Jordin Mayes. Other rotation patterns
could also be affected.

What
Miller does know is that he no longer wants to get off to slow
starts, like the 21-4 burial that did the Wildcats in against the
Aztecs.

“At
the end of the day, we’re a team like New Mexico State, that’s
trying to play nine or ten players,” Miller said. “We need
contributions from everybody, from our bench and we need guys to
come into the game with confidence and add value to what we’re
doing.”

--

Miller said freshman forward Sidiki
Johnson has returned to Arizona and will finish up the fall
semester but will not participate in team activities. Miller said
Johnson will not travel to New Mexico State and will not practice
or play anytime soon.

“His
focus is strictly academic, and off the court to make sure he does
what he needs to do to be successful,” Miller said.

Possible translation: Johnson works to
remain eligible so that UA will give him a release to transfer and
so that he can become eligible somewhere else.

Miller declined to specify the odds
that Johnson rejoins the team but they appear slim. Miller said
Johnson could still be dismissed or elect to transfer, and also
that he could “earn his way back” to the team at some
point.

But,
when pressed for a timeframe on a possible reinstatement, Miller
added this:

“I
don’t think you’ll see Sidiki play for Arizona for a long time,”
Miller told the Star.

--

There's no word yet on whether the NBA might
impose a two-year requirement for the NBA draft, and Miller had no
idea which way it might go.

"I didn't even realize the NBA strike had ended," Miller said.
"I'm just trying to practice and hopefully be a better team."